A Purdue University (Indiana) pharmacy course on issues facing health care providers, consumers, and payers incorporated discussion of articles from health care journals, writing assignments, and small group exercises. Course assessment by pretest/posttest, students' brief essays, and formal course evaluation pointed to the course's positive…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe educational MOOs--MUD, object-oriented (text-based, network-accessible virtual environments) and explore how teaching and learning in such a context impacts on students' inhibitions. Design/methodology/approach: Students enrolled in a course on the psychology of cyberspace interacted for 12 weeks…

On-site interviews with administrators and teachers in 35 small, rural secondary schools in Oregon indicated that quality education was being provided to their students, despite the limitations of low budgets and small staff and student bodies. The study found that to provide the curriculum diversity that would meet the special needs of their…

In Parcells Middle School social studies students in grades seven and eight select a six-weeks course of study from the slate of classes available out of the forty developed around the areas of geography and United States history. Development of these units is based on the following principles: an open-ended, self renewing curriculum; the rights…

Describes the political machinations resulting in Manitoba's downgrading of Canadian history from a compulsory to an elective subject. Argues that this reflects a broader nationwide educational trend rejecting the humanities in favor of science and technology. Criticizes a view of society dominated by market forces and self-interest. (MJP)

A cornerstone of the author's pedagogy as a teacher educator is to help students analyse how their culture and socialisation influence their role as teachers. In this article she shares the reflections of her Australian students on their culture. As part of their coursework in an elective subject, "Cultural Diversity and Education",…

Maintains that geography occupies a prominent position in the Chinese secondary curriculum. Describes the current course content, which includes both physical and human geography. Concludes by discussing barriers to further development, including lack of qualified staff and poor textbooks. (CFR)

This essay compares two curricular treatments of the Holocaust, one that resulted from a full-semester, 10th grade elective course taught at a public high school, the second constructed through a quarter-long, 8th grade unit taught at a charismatic, evangelical, fundamentalist Christian private school. In brief, the study examines the Holocaust's…

A five-year longitudinal investigation was undertaken to identify factors influencing secondary school students in their choice of sixth-form courses and possible careers. The influence of intelligence, personality, aspirations, and family were studied. (Author/BW)

A study explored orientations to the study of statistics of 52 second-year psychology students (for whom statistics was required) and 59 arts students (for whom it was elective) at the University of Sydney (Australia). Students reported their reasons for studying statistics, course expectations, and usual approaches to studying mathematics.…

Reviews recent literature concerning subject choice and curriculum planning. Charts a centrist course between classical humanist ideology and radical reform that would place all power in the hands of students. Maintains that young people need a balanced mix of guidance and freedom. (MJP)

A study was conducted at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Library Science to quantitatively determine whether courses adequately addressed program goals and objectives. Results showed that service goals and librarianship were reasonably addressed, but research and management goals were addressed in few courses. The statement of…

Calls attention to the emphasis on the practical in the curricula of community colleges and its infusion into the liberal arts programs of many four-year schools. Even in the upper tiers of the academic system, the vocational vogue is encroaching on the traditional liberal education. (SLD)

In many countries there remain substantial sex differences in enrolments in elective science courses, despite concerted efforts in recent years to alleviate them. This paper explores the reasons for these differences by comparing models of male and female enrolment intentions in elective courses in biology, chemistry and physics. The models are…

In 1976 Richard Gross surveyed state social studies specialists and local supervisors to determine the status of the social studies. To determine whether the generalizations from his study are still applicable today, a questionnaire was sent to Council of State Social Studies Specialists. Results of the two studies are compared. (RM)